What is percutaneoustenotomy?
This new and innovative technique is treating
tendonitis and tendon-related pain.
Percutaneous tenotomy is a procedure designed to treat those suffering from ongoing tendon pain and conditions like tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, patellar tendinitis (jumper’s knee), and Achilles tendonitis. It works by targeting and removing the source of tendon pain – damaged tendon tissue – through a minimally invasive incision. If more conservative therapies like physical therapy have failed to sufficiently treat tendonitis, it can be a great option for long-term pain relief. Recovery is rapid, with many people returning to normal activities within six weeks or less.
How Percutaneous Tenotomy Works
This procedure uses ultrasound imaging to visualize and identify the specific location of damaged tendon tissue. Once the source of pain is identified, a doctor will use a local anesthetic to numb the area before using gentle ultrasonic energy to safely break down and remove the damaged tissue. The energy is applied with the TX Micro Tip, which requires only a micro-incision to reach the damaged tissue.
The Perks of Percutaneous Tenotomy
Before percutaneous tenotomy, most tendonitis patients were treated through a combination of physical therapy and anti-inflammatory and steroid medications. These methods could effectively bring pain relief; however, they did not remove the underlying source of tendon pain: the damaged tissue. Because the incision made with the TX Micro Tip is so small and the ultrasonic energy precisely treats only the damaged tendon tissue, the surrounding healthy tissue is left unharmed. When the procedure is completed, a doctor applies a small adhesive bandage, and no stitches are required. Because the surrounding healthy tissue is not disturbed and no stitches or general anesthesia are required, there is minimal downtime and discomfort.
